PROVINCETOWN — The town is now the proud owner of a brand new, custom-made,
state-of-the-art fire truck that was purchased by Airport Manager Arthur
“Butch” Lisenby utilizing federal and state grants.
“The airport buys it with grant funding and turns it over to us,” explained Mike Trovato, Provincetown’s fire chief, adding that Lisenby, a longtime firefighter, worked hard to get the grants and create the custom-designed machine.
As with all the capital improvements slated for the airport, a Federal Aviation Administration grant will pay for 95 percent of the vehicle’s $670,000 cost. The state and the town will pay 2.5 percent each, or approximately $16,000.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan was in town on Monday visiting with Trovato, a visit that included checking out the new piece of equipment.
“I am impressed,” said Coan. “It’s a beautiful piece of equipment.”
While looking at the vehicle, Coan called the fire chief at Otis Air Base and got a promise of assistance in training on the truck. Trovato said that Coan comes from a volunteer firefighting tradition and has been helpful to the Provincetown department.
“It’s nice that he takes a lot of interest. He’s been a huge help over the years,” said Trovato. Otis Air Base and Hyannis Airport both have similar pieces of equipment, he added.
The big yellow truck is manufactured by Rosen Bauer. It looks a bit like something out of “Star Wars,” one of those all-wheel-drive vehicles that might travel on the rocky terrain of distant planets, with giant wheels and a sleek, futuristic look.
The new truck has “turrets” and “cannons” in the front of the vehicle and on top, to be able to attack an airplane fire from above and below. There is a 1,500-gallon water tank and two different storage tanks for chemicals. The new vehicle has infrared cameras, so that responders can see any victims on their way to the fire scene, and its own jaws of life. The tires can be automatically deflated from within the cab for over-sand use.
In addition to Lisenby, Trovato noted that Jimmy Roderick also has put a lot of work into the new truck. Roderick, a district chief on the volunteer department, went to the factory in South Dakota for training. He and Lisenby will now lead the training of other department members.
The new truck will remain at the airport, but it can be used to respond to fires in town. It replaces a Hummer that will now become a utility vehicle for the fire department. Trovato said the Hummer could be used for situations like an accident victim needing to be rescued from the breakwater at low tide.
Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com
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